Prepare the water bombs, squirt guns and balloons - the Youth Empowerment Council is hosting a youth water fight next week.

The water fight is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Mike Sedar Park. The Casper Fire Department will be on hand to fill the water pools at the park for the battle.

Students in grades seven through 12 are invited to participate. Drinks, hot dogs and burgers will be provided.

Shane Rager, director of the council, said the idea for a water fight stemmed from a recent training he and several youth members attended. The training focused on leadership and alcohol use among teenagers.

YEC member Brian Jackson, 15, said a lot of students asked why the training didn't focus on marijuana, or other popular drugs. The facilitator then asked everyone in the room who had been affected by alcohol.

"Almost everybody stood up," Brian said.

Brian said the training also showed students how to be leaders in taking up the fight against alcohol use among teens. And according to him, drinking is a problem among Casper students.

Teens view Casper as a small town with very little do, Brian continued. But YEC is trying to provide alternative activities for students to take part in.

"A lot of kids in Casper think that the only thing to do to have fun is go to parties with drugs and alcohol," Brian said. "What we're trying to do is push for a lot of new activities and events that will push them away from the negative events."

The water fight is a reminder to teenagers to just be kids and have a little fun, Rager said.

"Alcohol is [seen as] a way to have fun in high school," Rager said. "This activity is hopefully going to be an example of how we can still have fun and not need alcohol to have that fun."

Rager said he hopes the water will grow into an annual event, and serve as a reminder to teenagers to just have fun.

"It ought to be a blast," Rager said.

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com

For more info

Call the Youth Empowerment Council at (307) 233-4271.